Steve Georganas (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

What would the community prefer? Would it prefer the Liberal backbench committee getting over there some time over the summer or the minister in two days time? And, yes, matters concerning education, health services, fire safety, security, jobs and other issues are expected to be discussed, and there should be consultations.

I am suggesting that the government, through the minister, is well on top of everything that this member is calling for in his motion. It has already happened, is continuing to happen or is happening. The motion does nothing but waste backbenchers’ time—even though I am sure they would all be most welcome in South Australia over the December-January period, regardless. I encourage them to pop in and try some of the wine at Bird in the Hand, just up the road from the area we are discussing. We have lots of great spots, which all the backbenchers, and ministers for that matter, would be most welcome to visit.

There is a more serious issue in this and I am concerned not by this motion per se about the consultation but by what this type of grandstanding may be doing in the community. We heard on the weekend of the distribution of highly negative material—

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